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Finished in Gunpowder Gray
This RC car body came to life in Gunpowder Gray — a deep gunmetal pearl laid down with clean blue racing stripes across the hood and roof. The whole thing was sprayed with the same Gunpowder Gray vehicle paint kit we ship to every customer: DTM primer-sealer for the black ground coat, the Gunpowder Gray basecoat, and HS Glamour clearcoat over the top.
Here is how the finish came together — the prep, the products, and the steps to chase the same look on your own project.
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Download the Free PDF →Meet the Builder: RC Car Build
This build ran the full Alpha Automotive Paint system end to end — no shop-only products, no shortcuts. The system is DTM primer-sealer, Gunpowder Gray basecoat, and HS Glamour clearcoat, plus urethane reducer, HS activator, and the TSS cheat sheet to keep the ratios straight. The Gunpowder Gray vehicle paint kit you would buy is the exact kit sprayed here.
The Color: Why Gunpowder Gray?
Gunpowder Gray is a single-pigment dark gray pearl basecoat that reads as a deep gunmetal with a fine metallic sparkle. It is bound in Alpha’s pigment-controlled binder, so it lays down without striping or mottling and carries strong UV resistance.
Gunpowder Gray is built to spray over a black ground coat for full, even coverage. Over its recommended black ground coat, Gunpowder Gray delivers full coverage and reads at its cleanest, showing the shift exactly the way it was designed to.
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See Gunpowder Gray in person — risk-free.
Return the painted samples for store credit toward your paint.
Shop the Gunpowder Gray Sample →Every Way to Get Gunpowder Gray
Whether you're painting a full vehicle, a motorcycle, a guitar, or just touching up with a spray can — Gunpowder Gray is available for every project size. Each kit includes matched products sized for the job.
Gunpowder Gray Vehicle Paint Kit
$574.93 USD
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Gunpowder Gray Paint Basecoat Midcoat
From$15.99 USD
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Gunpowder Gray Spray Can Midcoat
$39.99 USD
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Gunpowder Gray Motorcycle Paint Kit
From$345.65 USD
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Gunpowder Gray Bike Paint Kit
From$185.70 USD
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Gunpowder Gray Guitar Paint Kit
From$110.72 USD
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Gunpowder Gray Wheel Paint Kit
From$332.91 USD
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Gunpowder Gray Brake Caliper Paint Kit
From$132.71 USD
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Gunpowder Gray lays down most evenly over black — keep the coats consistent so the gunmetal stays uniform, then mask cleanly for crisp accent stripes.
What's Inside the Vehicle Paint Kit
These are all the products included in the Gunpowder Gray Full Vehicle Paint Kit. Every product is already matched and compatible — no hunting across brands, no guessing on ratios.
DTM Primer-Sealer (AP-7541) — The black ground coat Gunpowder Gray is built on. AP-7541 DTM primer-sealer lays a uniform, opaque foundation so the pearl reads at full strength.
Gunpowder Gray Basecoat — Gunpowder Gray basecoat is the color coat itself, mixed 1:1 with Alpha urethane reducer and laid over the ground coat.
HS Glamour Clear (AC-4521) — AC-4521 HS Glamour clearcoat buries the color in gloss and locks in UV and chip protection.
Alpha Urethane Reducer (AR-3000 Series) — Alpha urethane reducer thins the basecoat to a spray-ready 1:1 ratio for even, controlled coats.
HS Activator (AH-7100 Series) — AH-7100 HS activator catalyzes the HS Glamour clear so it cures hard, clear, and durable.
TSS Cheat Sheet — The TSS cheat sheet keeps every mix ratio and flash window in front of you for the whole job.
Optional Add-Ons
The vehicle paint kit has everything you need to go from prepped surface to finished paint. But depending on where your project is starting, these add-on bundles can save time and money on the prep and masking side:
Bodywork Bundle
$175.00
Body filler, abrasives, and everything for panel repair. Ideal if your project needs dent or rust repair before paint.
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Light Bodywork Bundle
From $92.99
Dolphin Glaze finishing putty and OptiGrit sanding abrasives. Perfect for filling pinholes, minor scratches, and light surface imperfections.
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Mask & Mix Bundle
$75.00
Mixing cups, strainers, masking tape, and masking paper. Everything you need for clean, precise masking and easy paint mixing.
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Linear Blocking Tools Starter Set
From $236.50
CNC-cut polycarbonate sanding blocks with lifetime warranty. Produces perfectly flat, straight panels for a professional finish.
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OptiGrit PSA Sandpaper Bundle
$64.99
Complete PSA sandpaper set in 80, 180, 220, and 320 grit. The full grit progression for blocking and prep, sized for long boards.
Shop NowThe Complete DIY Process
Step 1: Prep & Scuff
A clean, even finish starts with the surface underneath. Knock the sheen off and level the piece with OptiGrit abrasives, then clean it down before a single coat goes on. Skip this and Gunpowder Gray will telegraph every flaw.
Step 2: DTM Primer-Sealer (Black Ground Coat)
A black ground coat of DTM primer-sealer is the foundation this color was built on — it delivers the uniform, full-coverage base the pearl needs to read at its cleanest. Lay it even and let it flash before color.
Step 3: Gunpowder Gray Basecoat
Gunpowder Gray basecoat mixes 1:1 with Alpha urethane reducer and builds in smooth, even coats until the shift comes up evenly across the whole piece. Let each coat flash — patience here is what keeps the pearl deep instead of blotchy.
Step 4: HS Glamour Clearcoat
HS Glamour clearcoat, catalyzed with HS activator, is where the depth comes alive — it locks the color under a wet, glassy gloss and adds the UV and chip protection.
Step 5: Cut & Buff
Once the clear is fully cured, a light cut with fine OptiGrit and a buff brings it to a mirror. Keep the TSS cheat sheet handy so no ratio or flash window gets rushed.
Ready to Paint Your Own Build?
Everything used here — DTM primer-sealer (your black ground coat), ready-to-spray Gunpowder Gray basecoat, HS Glamour clearcoat, reducer, activator, and cheat sheet — in one kit.
Build Your Gunpowder Gray Kit — $574.93 USDLooking for a different color or kit size? Browse all car kits →
See It in Action
TSS painting tutorials and kit walkthroughs — the answers we get asked most.
Frequently Asked Questions
Black. Gunpowder Gray is a single-pigment pearl, and a black ground coat gives it full, even coverage for a consistent gunmetal tone. The Gunpowder Gray vehicle paint kit ships with the black DTM primer-sealer for exactly this.
Gunpowder Gray is a dark gray pearl basecoat — it reads as a deep gunmetal with a fine metallic sparkle, ideal as a full color or as a base for accent stripes like the blue on this build.
Yes — Gunpowder Gray is available in an aerosol spray can for touch-ups and small parts, matched to the same basecoat used on the full build.
Every Product Used in This Build
Gunpowder Gray Vehicle Paint Kit
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Gunpowder Gray Paint Basecoat Midcoat
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DTM Primer-Sealer AP-7541 Kit | Alpha Automotive Paint
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HS Glamour Clearcoat AC-4521 Kit | Alpha Automotive Paint
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Urethane Reducer AR-3000 Series | Alpha Automotive Paint
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HS Activator AH-7100 | Alpha Automotive Paint
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Limited Time Deals
Clearance & Flash Sales
Discounted kits, closeout colors, and flash deals — check back often, these move fast.
Shop Current Sales →Huge thanks for running the system as designed and turning out one of the cleanest Gunpowder Gray body finishes we have seen. This is exactly what these kits were built for.
Stay connected with the TSS paint community: follow tutorials and color reveals on YouTube, short-form builds on TikTok and Instagram, and join the Facebook community group.
Want to be featured? Tag @thespraysource or email sales@thespraysource.com.
